India pushes back at Trump aide's claim about US trade deal breakdown

India has refuted claims made by former Trump aide Howard Lutnick that a US-India trade deal failed because Prime Minister Modi didn't call President Trump. Lutnick stated that the deal was ready, but India's reluctance to arrange the call led to its collapse, after which the US pursued deals with other countries. India's foreign ministry responded that Lutnick's characterization was inaccurate, emphasizing that both countries were committed to negotiations since February of last year and had held multiple rounds of talks. The ministry also noted that Modi and Trump spoke on the phone eight times last year, discussing various aspects of their partnership. The US imposed tariffs on Indian goods in August after the trade talks stalled, with agriculture remaining a key sticking point.

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